Ecological Indicators (Jan 2024)
Evaluation and quantitative characterization for the ecological environment impact of open pit mining on vegetation destruction from landsat time series: A case study of Wulishan limestone mine
Abstract
Quantitatively evaluating the ecological environment impacts of vegetation destruction due to open-pit mining activities is vital for enhancing the green mining standard and cost management capabilities of mining enterprises. Based on the Landsat time series, this study proposes an ecological environment impact assessment and quantitative characterization method for vegetation destruction in mining areas resulting from open-pit mining activities. First, the modified normalized difference water index and the normalized difference vegetation index time series data were calculated. The water body thresholds and the fraction of vegetation coverage were ascertained using the K-means clustering algorithm and the dimidiate pixel model, respectively, to determine the area of direct vegetation destruction in mining areas. Second, utilizing the Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and the Mann-Kendall test, the indirect impact area of vegetation in the mining region was identified. Lastly, by integrating vegetation's net primary productivity with the Chinese Emission Allowance price index, the total carbon emission cost of vegetation destruction due to mining activities over 20 years was calculated to be about 2.122 million yuan. The findings indicated that the ecological environmental impact of open-pit mining activities on vegetation destruction cannot be ignored. From 2000 to 2020, open-pit mining at the Wulishan limestone mine in Anhui Province, China, increased the area of direct vegetation destruction by 9.072 × 105 m2, and the indirect impact area on vegetation was 7.371 × 105 m2. The carbon emission cost of vegetation destruction in the direct destruction area was about 104,000 yuan per year, and the carbon emission cost of vegetation damage in the indirect impact area was approximately 2,082.53 yuan per year. This research provides a scientific foundation for ecological environmental protection, regulations, green mining, and cost management for mining enterprises, promoting the harmonious progress of both the economy and environmental protection.
